Plaque-easel



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN R. PAY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

PLAQU E-EASE L.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,211, dated December14, 1886.

Application filed April 19, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN R. PAY, of Peoria, in the county of Peoria,State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Plaque- Easel; and I dohereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof. I

The object of'this invention is the construc tion of an improved easelor holder for plaques and similar circular ornamented articles.

The essential elements of my plaqueeasel consist of a base, a prop, aback, and a clamp, constructed and combined in the following manner.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1represents a front elevation of my plaque-easel with a plaqueheldthereby. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the easel with the crescentportion of the base removed; Fig. 3, a perspective view of saidcrescent; Fig. at, a side elevation of the easel.

The base consists of the base portion proper, A, and the crescent E,attached thereto and provided with a circular receiving-edge forsupporting the plaque. The base portion A, which I term the standard, isgiven legs A. The back B, I usually form from asinglelength of wire bentinto the oval curve shown,and having its ends B inserted into sockets Oin the standard A, or into sockets formed on the plate 0, pivoted tosaid standard. The object of this pivoted plate 0 is, that the back Bcan be turned down behind the standard A for compactness in packing. Ifdesired, theends B of the back B can be soldered or otherwise fixed tothe sockets O of the plate 0. If the said ends are simply heldfrictiontight in said sockets, I usually join the said ends with thecross-plate B".

The prop for supporting the easel consists of the wire I), bent intosubstantially the form shown and having its ends provided with the eyesD, encircling the wire sides of the back B. As shown in Fig. 4,the planeof said eyes is at approximately right angles to the plane of the prop,so that the latter cannot swing farther away from the standard than issufficient to support the easel, and can still be folded against thebase for transportation and storage.

Serial No. 199,351.

(X0 model.)

To the front of the standard A is secured the flat hook F, and to theback of the crescent E are fastened one or more flat sockets, F, adaptedto fit said hook F. By means of said sockets and hook the crescent canbe secured to the standard A in different positions, eithersymmetrically or to one side, as in Fig. 1. The concave edge of thecrescent E, I usually form with a groove into which to set the edge ofthe plaque, and said groove E may be walled upon both sides, as in Fig.4; or it can have simply a frontal wall, as in Fig. 3, two or moreprojections, E serving for the rear wall thereof.

To so secure the plaques in place upon their easels that there shall beno danger of their falling or being blown therefrom, I have con structedthe clamp which consists, essentially, of a hook connected by an elasticlink to the back B. In the drawings, the hook M is provided with thecoiled tension spring M, loosely held to the wire of the back B by aneye, M encircling the said wire. A star or other ornamental plate beingaffixed to the hook M, the latter is concealed and an added appearanceof elegance given to the plaque.

On the face of the crescent E can be painted or otherwise formedornamental designs and other decorative effects; and in addition therecan be affixed to said face a match-safe, S, or other useful andembellishing attachments put thereon.

Among other advantages than that of its gracefulness for constructingthe portion E in the shape of a crescent are the facts that the interioror concave curve thereof fits closely to the edge of the plaque heldthereby, and the outer curve of the crescent, whatever its lateraldisplacement, is symmetrical relative to the standard A. Anotheradvantage comes from the saving in material which results in themanufacture of the crcscents. Their inner and outer curves being ofequal radii, a series of crescents can be out from a single strip ofmateriahwith the concave edge of one entirely contiguous to the convexedge of the next. In place of the coiled spring M, a rubber elastic canbe substituted.

The upper edge of the standard A, I often curve and provide with agroove, E, so that,

if desired, the crescent Ecan be dispensed with and the plaque held bybeing rested in the groove of said standard.

In use the back B is inserted into its sockets O, the prop D is swungout, the crescent E attached to the standard by means. of either socketF, and so put in the desired position, the plaque P placed in the grooveE of the crescent, the clamp-hook M moved about on the wire B untilopposite to the crescent, and stretched sufticiently to pass the star Lin over the rim of the plaque. Said star and the hook connectedtherewith being let down over the edge of the plaque, the latter issecurely held from all danger of accidental removal.

What I claim as my invention, and for which I desire Letters Patent, isas follows, t0 Wit:

1. In a plaque-easel, a standard having its upper edge curved concentricwith a plaqueto be held thereby, in combination with a back rising fromsaid standard and aprop, substantially as set forth.

2. In an easel, the combination, with a standard, of the wire backprojecting from the standard and the prop formed of a single length ofwire having the eyes D encircling the wire of the back, and bent, as setforth, whereby said prop can be swung toward and from the standard.

3. In an easel, the combination, with the standard having sockets O, ofthe wire back having its ends adapted to enter said sockets, and a propfor supporting the same.

4. In an easel, the combination, with the standard, of the plate 0,pivoted to thestandard and having sockets O, the wire back having itsends adapted to enter said sockets, and the supportingprop.

5. In an easel, the combination, with the 0 and means for securing it tothe standard, the

upper edge of said standard being adapted to support a plaque.

7. In aplaque-holder, the crescent suitably supported and having itsupper and concave edge provided with the plavue-receiving V groove,substantially as set forth.

8. In a plaque-holder, the combination,with suitable supports, of thecrescent or similar holder having its upper edge curved concentric witha plaque, and means for supporting the lower edge of a plague just belowsaid curved edge, substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.

9. In a plaque-easel, the combination, with the standard A,of the wireback B, projecting from said standard, the prop D, loosely connected tothe back, the grooved crescent E, secured to said standard, and theelasticallyextensible hook M, loosely attached to said wire back, as andfor the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention I have hereunto setmyhand and seal this 14th day of April, 1886.

STEPHEN R. PAY. [L. s.]

\Vitnesses:

A. B. UPHAM, A. KEITHLEY.

